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2 July 2024
United States Seeks Forfeiture of Ellensburg Home Used for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that the United States filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the Eastern District of Washington against a house in Ellensburg, Washington that allegedly was used to distribute illegal drugs.
The Complaint alleges the home was purchased on September 30, 2011, by June Green. The home is on the same block as a preschool and only one block away from the public library and a church in one direction and the local middle school in another. It is two blocks away from the Ellensburg Police (EPD) station.
According to the Complaint, EPD became familiar with the occupants of the home in 2014 because of repeated visits to the property. Since 2014, EPD responded to the property more than 300 times. The allegations in the Complaint are that Green, her children, and those they allow to live at the property, have repeatedly used the property to facilitate drug use and distribution for years.
The Complaint alleges EPD has conducted multiple controlled buys of illegal narcotics including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin at the home. EPD has also responded for a variety of calls at the property involving, among other things, a drug overdose, a stabbing, an assault with a golf club, animal cruelty, burglary, debit card theft, threating neighborhood children with a baseball bat, a welfare check that resulted in the alleged assault of EPD officers, vehicle theft, noise complaints, trespassing, and code violations for garbage and yard growth.
“The property named in the complaint is just a short distance from public spaces where the community should be able to safely learn, worship, and enjoy time with their families and loved ones,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “My office is committed to working to keep communities safe and strong, including by using resources when appropriate to forfeit properties maintained for drug use and distribution. Such properties present a serious safety risk for neighbors, families, and communities in Eastern Washington.”
This case was investigated by the Ellensburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian M. Donovan.
The complaint can be found below.
Complaint for Ellensburg HouseA civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation that money or property was involved in or facilitated illegal activity or represents the proceeds of crime. These allegations are not proven unless and until a court enters judgment in favor of the United States.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Hosts Summer Law CampRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS – Earlier this week, 36 area high school students participated in an immersive Summer Law Camp hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota. Over the course of three days, students learned about the federal justice system from the perspective of criminal, civil, and appellate attorneys and paralegals, victim witness advocates, human resource specialists, law enforcement officials, judicial law clerks, the federal judiciary, and law students.
“The USAO’s Summer Law Camp was developed to introduce high school students to various career paths associated with the criminal justice system and the practice of law,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “It is our hope that by offering a window into the work we do each and every day to uphold the rule of law and keep our communities safe, we can inspire the next generation to consider careers as lawyers, law enforcement officers, or vital legal support professionals.”
In addition to meeting with members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, students heard from the Federal Public Defender’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshal’s Service (USMS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), South Dakota’s FUSION Center, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Sioux Falls Police Department (SFPD). On the third day of Camp, students conducted a mock trial before U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier.
This was the first Summer Law Camp organized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota. Information about future programming will be distributed to area school districts in Spring 2025. For more information, please reach out to [email protected].
U.S. Attorney's Office Secured Agreement with Town of Glen Alpine to Ensure Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that the Town of Glen Alpine has remedied several violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to its Town Hall building. The resolution is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to ensure that civic institutions comply with the ADA.
The United States Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are responsible for enforcing the ADA, which prohibits the failure to make reasonable modifications where those modifications are necessary to make services available to individuals with disabilities. Under Title II of the ADA and its regulations, state and local governments are required to remove barriers for individuals with disabilities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office initiated an investigation following a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Justice, claiming that the Town of Glen Alpine violated the ADA by failing to provide reasonable accommodations to permit access to its Town Hall for residents with disabilities. The Town of Glen Alpine cooperated with the investigation and has resolved the ADA violations in accordance with the law, regulations, and the 2010 ADA Standards of Accessible Design. The modifications include: (1) an accessible parking space at the front of the town hall adjacent to a ramp and an accessible sign mounted at least 60” from the ground; (2) the town hall now has a smooth and unobstructed ramp with ADA compliant handrails on each side; (3) there is a doorbell at the accessible entrance; (4) the interior route from the accessible entrance is clear and unobstructed; (5) insulation was added to the exposed pipes in each bathroom; and (6) the Town added Braille signage to the conference room where its meetings are held. In addition, new ADA compliant ramps were also added to the stage and gazebo bringing them into ADA compliance among other modifications.
“My office is committed to enforcing the ADA and protecting all civil rights in this District,” said U.S. Attorney King, who also leads the Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Civil Rights. “Individuals with disabilities have a right to equal access to government services and should not be deprived from accessing those services due to lack of reasonable modifications. I want to thank the citizen who brought this matter to our attention, and I am pleased that the Town of Glen Alpine also prioritizes the needs of its residents and compliance with federal law. With these remedies, each resident and visitor can fully enjoy and utilize the services of the town, especially on the 4th of July.”
Individuals who believe they have been victims of discrimination may file an ADA complaint online at https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/. Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-833-610-1264 (TTY).
This matter was handled by Investigators Cathleen Hollowell and Neil Power and Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) Jon Warren, Julia Wood, and Janice Powers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. AUSA Powers also serves as the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil/Civil Rights Coordinator.
Two Individuals Charged with Scheme to Export and Smuggle Aviation Device to United Arab EmiratesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two people were arrested Tuesday morning for shipping an Air Data Inertial Reference Unit (ADIRU) from New Jersey to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) without having obtained the required license and authorization, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Fadi Nammas, 43, of Fairfax, Virginia, and Tara Jamhour, 24, of Rockaway, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to export and smuggle goods from the United States, one count of unlawfully exporting goods from the United States without having first obtained the required license or authorization, and one count of smuggling goods from the United States. Nammas made his initial appearance on July 2, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Fitzpatrick in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia, and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing, detention hearing, and identity hearing on July 3, 2024, before Judge Fitzpatrick. Jamhour made her initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From November 2023 through March 2024, Nammas and Jamhour were working under the auspices of Star Aero, an aircraft service and part provider with a purported address in Garfield, New Jersey. The defendants obtained an ADIRU, a component that supplies air data and inertial reference information to pilots’ electronic flight instrument system displays, from a Vermont-based aviation company. Nammas and Jamhour arranged to have the ADIRU shipped to Star Aero’s purported Garfield address. In procuring the ADIRU, Nammas and Jamhour represented that the ADIRU was being purchased for Star Aero’s stock purposes and that Star Aero understood and would comply with United States export laws. The defendants did not disclose that they intended to ship the ADIRU to another company in the UAE. Once the defendants received the ADIRU, they repackaged it with false documentation that undervalued and falsely described the item and attempted to ship it to the UAE. Neither Nammas nor Jamhour obtained the required license or authorization to ship the ADIRU, which was controlled for missile technology and anti-terrorism reasons, to the UAE.
The charge of conspiracy is punishable by a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 fine. The charge of unlawfully exporting controlled goods is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The charge of smuggling is punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, under the direction of U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber, and agents of the HSI Field Office in Fairfax, Virginia.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vera Varshavsky of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s National Security Unit and Trial Attorney Monica Svetoslavov of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
nammasjamhour.complaint.pdfTwo Additional Defendants Arrested in Iowa and Wisconsin in Relation to Nationwide, Multimillion Dollar Return-Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrests of Brock David Fischer (27, Robins, Iowa), a/k/a “iFruit,” and Miguel Angel Fortier, Jr. (24, Milwaukee, Wisconsin), a/k/a “Destined,” on an indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit mail fraud. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. Fortier made his initial appearance on June 28, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was released on conditions pending his trial in Tampa. Fischer will make his initial appearance today in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
According to court documents, beginning around December 2021, the co-conspirators gained unauthorized access to the tracking platform of a multinational shipping, receiving, and supply chain management company (the Victim Company). This access allowed the co-conspirators to enter false and fraudulent tracking information for merchandise shipped by the Victim Company on behalf of victim-retailers located all over the country.
Fischer, Fortier, and Matthew Frederic Bergwall (22, Darien, Connecticut)—who has been charged federally with conspiracy, mail fraud, and computer fraud in a separate case—served as administrators for “the Service,” a chat room/marketplace on an encrypted messaging platform. The Service sold access to the Victim Company’s tracking platform. Specifically, customers used the Service to obtain full refunds from victim-retailers while maintaining physical possession of merchandise ordered, such as high-end electronics, jewelry, and designer clothing and accessories. During a five-month period, the return-fraud scheme caused nearly 10,000 fraudulent returns and resulted in victim-retailers losing more than $8 million in merchandise.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa, with valuable assistance from HSI Cedar Rapids, HSI Milwaukee, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.
Texas Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Attempted Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Jeremy Alexander Martinez, 33, has been sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Attempted Enticement of a Minor. Martinez entered a guilty plea to this offense on February 20, 2024.
According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, in June of 2023, a minor child’s mother went through the minor child’s phone and discovered sexually explicit images that the minor was sending to an unknown person via email. Based on the email exchange, the mother believed the unknown person to be an adult male. FBI Mobile began their investigation, and ultimately identified Jeremy Martinez as the unknown male to whom the minor child victim was sending the images. The minor child had met Martinez on a social media application and then they began communicating via email. When the child’s mother discovered the images, she gave consent for the FBI to take over her daughter’s account. FBI agents continued conversing with Martinez. During the course of this conversation, Martinez detailed several explicit sexual acts he wanted to engage in with the child, while confirming he knew her age. Martinez was located in San Antonio, Texas. He was interviewed and admitted to the conversations.
Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock imposed a 120-month sentence of incarceration and a lifetime term of supervised release upon his discharge from prison. Chief Judge Beaverstock further ordered that Martinez pay $100 in a special assessment. Martinez will be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison and is to have no contact with minors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Kacey Chappelear and Beth Stepan prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources
Sylmar Man Arrested for Allegedly Using Instagram to Advertise and Distribute Child Sexual Abuse Material and to Commit SextortionRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley man was arrested today on a three-count federal grand jury indictment alleging he used Instagram to advertise sexually explicit images of high school girls without their permission, to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and to further threaten victims who objected to his behavior.
Alejandro Garcia Aranda, 23, of Sylmar, is charged with one count of advertisement of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count transmitting threatening communications with intent to extort.
Aranda’s arraignment is scheduled for this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on June 27, in April and May of 2020, Aranda used the Instagram handle “valleyhoezzz818” with the self-proclaimed goal of “[e]xposing all valley hoes with their @’s” to target local girls who attended schools in the San Fernando Valley.
Using Cash App, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle, Aranda allegedly received payments from customers who wanted to obtain sexually explicit content of the victims that he had advertised and offered to sell on the Instagram account. After receiving and confirming payment, using the Instagram account, Aranda then allegedly sent a direct message to customers and provided a link to a zip file containing the sexually explicit photographs of his victims.
When victims discovered that sexually explicit materials depicting them were being advertised and disseminated by Aranda and requested that he stop and remove them, Aranda allegedly attempted to extract further additional sexually explicit material from them, including by threatening to post additional photographs.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted of all charges, Aranda would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for the child pornography advertisement count, a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and up to 20 years in federal prison for the child pornography distribution count, and up to two years in federal prison on the threats count.
The FBI is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Kathy Yu, Chief of Ethics and Post-Conviction Review, is prosecuting this case.
Sussex County Man Charged with Multimillion-Dollar COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK N.J. – A Sussex County, New Jersey, man was indicted today for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Nikenson Jean Mathurin, aka “Nik Mathurin,” aka “Jean Mathurin”, 44, of Sparta, New Jersey, is charged with three counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Mathurin was previously charged by complaint in relation to the same scheme.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From April 2020 through November 2022, Mathurin participated in a scheme to defraud a lender and the Small Business Administration to obtain federal COVID-19 emergency relief money by submitting several fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications on behalf of several purported businesses. Mathurin’s fraudulent applications included false information concerning, among other things, the applicant entities’ average monthly payroll, gross revenue, and number of employees, and fake supporting tax documents. As a result of his fraudulent applications, Mathurin unlawfully obtained millions of dollars in federal COVID-19 emergency relief money.
Each wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and the money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Each charge also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the of the Northeast Region of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak, and special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, with the investigation leading to the indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Stark and Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark and Trial Attorney David D. Hamstra of the U.S Department of Justice’s Fraud Section.
The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
mathurin.indictment.pdfSt. Francis Man Sentenced for Prohibited Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on July 1, 2024.
Tyson Quigley, a/k/a Tyson Stands, age 35, was sentenced to seven years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Quigley was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He was found guilty following a three-day jury trial in April of 2024.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on January 1, 2023, near St. Francis within the boundaries of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, law enforcement was searching for Quigley based on an alleged home invasion that occurred that morning in St. Francis. Quigley was subsequently located in a parked vehicle at a residence near St. Francis. A .40 caliber pistol was found in the vehicle where he was sitting.
Quigley has three prior felony convictions. In 2013, he was convicted of Domestic Assault of a Pregnant Woman in Platte County, Nebraska. In 2018, he was convicted of Felon in Possession of a Firearm in United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. In 2019, he was convicted of Possession of Methamphetamine in Madison County, Nebraska. As a result of these convictions, it is illegal for Quigley to possess firearms or ammunition. Quigley will forfeit ownership of the firearm to the United States.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Quigley was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man and Woman Sentenced for Embezzlement and Theft from Indian Tribal OrganizationRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Robert A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced two persons from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who were convicted of Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization. The sentencings took place on July 1, 2024.
April Ferguson, age 46, was sentenced to five months in federal prison and an additional five months of home confinement, followed by two years of supervised release, restitution of $36,077 for the Ideal Lakota Community, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Steven Casto, age 41, was sentenced to two years of probation, restitution of $5,922 for the Ideal Lakota Community, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Ferguson and Casto were indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. Ferguson and Casto pleaded guilty on March 18, 2024.
Ferguson and Casto both previously lived within the Ideal Lakota Community, an organized political subdivision of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, established and governed by its Constitution and bylaws. Article V of the Rosebud Constitution explains the duties and responsibilities of the community chairperson and other officers, including how monies are to be expended for the benefit of community members. Between March 1, 2020 and June 1, 2021, Ferguson, acting in her capacity as the elected chairperson of the Ideal Lakota Community, fraudulently embezzled and stole money and assets from the community. Ferguson was dating Casto during part of this time. As chairperson, Ferguson had access to community treasury accounts. In December 2020, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe issued a large check to the Ideal Lakota Community. Ferguson and Casto linked a CashApp account to the Ideal Lakota Community’s bank account and conducted numerous transactions that were not for the benefit of the community members. Transactions included purchases from Amazon, Apple, Playstation Network, gas stations, restaurants, department stores, and grocery stores. Ferguson and Casto either directly benefited from the expenditures or allowed others to benefit from the funds rightfully belonging to the Ideal Lakota Community.
This case was brought pursuant to the Guardians Project, a federal law enforcement initiative to coordinate efforts between participating agencies, to promote citizen disclosure of public corruption, fraud, and embezzlement involving federal program funds, contracts, and grants, and to hold accountable those who are responsible for adversely affecting those living in South Dakota’s Indian country communities. The Guardians Project is another step of federal law enforcement’s on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and positive action on behalf of tribal communities. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the participating agencies include: the FBI; the Offices of Inspector General for the Departments of Interior, Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Agriculture, Transportation, Education, Justice, and Housing and Urban Development; IRS Criminal Investigation; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.
For additional information about the Guardians Project, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (605) 330-4400. To report a suspected crime, please contact law enforcement at the federal agency’s locally listed telephone number.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher prosecuted the case.
Ferguson was ordered to self surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service on July 15, 2024 to serve her custody sentence.
Recidivist Drug Dealer Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Death and for Participating in Drug Conspiracy While IncarceratedRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on July 1, 2024, to 13 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his conviction of distributing fentanyl resulting in death, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Rahde Williamson, 28.
According to information presented to the Court, from December 2018 through August 2019, Williamson supplied over 400 grams of fentanyl to Monessen-based narcotics dealer Delmar Pritchett. In June 2019, Pritchett distributed some of that fentanyl to a 21-year-old woman, T.H., who died from an overdose of the drugs. Both Williamson and Pritchett accepted responsibility for T.H.’s death during the course of their prosecutions. In imposing Williamson’s sentence, the Court also considered Williamson’s participation in a separate conspiracy to distribute suboxone, a Schedule III narcotic, while awaiting trial at the Butler County Prison. Williamson previously was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin in 2014 and was on federal supervised release at the time of his conduct in this case.
On May 17, 2024, Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer sentenced Pritchett to eight years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in the death of T.H. and the drug conspiracy with Williamson.
“Today’s sentencing is yet another reminder that the distribution of fentanyl can lead to tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Rahde Williamson was responsible for the fentanyl that found its way into the hands of a 21-year-old victim, and even after T.H.’s death, the defendant continued to deal drugs—this time, suboxone—while detained and awaiting trial. This office and our partners in law enforcement are dedicated to holding accountable those who distribute deadly substances on the street or inside the walls of a jail.”
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williamson.
Puerto Rican Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Ship Narcotics Across State LinesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Puerto Rican man pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 2000 grams of methamphetamine in the Southern District of Mississippi in connection with shipments of drugs across state lines.
Ricardo Roman Rivera Santana, 32, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, in 2021, an investigation was initiated involving John Michael Villafana-Mendez who was believed to be trafficking narcotics in Mississippi. During the investigation, agents identified Ricardo Roman Rivera Santana as the sender of two packages of narcotics, which were mailed from California to Mississippi. One package was mailed to a Vancleave address associated with Villafana-Mendez and the other was sent to a Pascagoula address. Both packages were intercepted by law enforcement. Lab reports for the substances in the 2 packages revealed 1043.9 grams of methamphetamine at 95% purity and 975.4 grams at 97% purity.
Rivera-Santana pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10, 2024, and faces a minimum of ten years up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Villafana-Mendez previously pled guilty and was sentenced on December 6, 2023, to 169 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Pascagoula Police Department, and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Providence Businesswoman Indicted in Alleged $10 Million Fraud Schemes Targeting Seniors and OthersRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Rhode Island woman who is alleged to have created and executed direct-mail sweepstakes schemes that defrauded seniors and other vulnerable individuals in Rhode Island and in dozens of states across the country out of an estimated $10 million dollars, has been indicted by a federal grand jury and arraigned on conspiracy and fraud charges, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Meagan E. Shine, 47, of Warwick, charged by way of indictment on June 17, 2024, with four counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, was arraigned today in U.S. District Court in Providence and released on unsecured bond.
“Preying on the hopes of elderly and vulnerable victims for profit, and using fraudulent mailings to persuade them to part with their hard-earned money takes a terrible toll- financially and mentally,” remarked U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. “Working with our partners at the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, the Postal Inspection Service, and federal, state, and local law enforcement, we are determined to ensure that those who seek to profit from fraud are held accountable.”
“Mass mail fraud schemes defraud elderly and vulnerable consumers out of millions of dollars every year,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its law enforcement partners are committed to vigorously pursuing all individuals who prey on vulnerable and elderly victims through these types of fraudulent schemes.”
It is alleged in charging documents that Shine utilized the U.S. Mail to engage in predatory fraud schemes that duped the elderly and other vulnerable individuals into sending payments, usually between $20 and $30 dollars, using mailings that falsely stated or suggested that recipients were entitled to cash prizes, valuable items, or other premiums. Many victims reported being contacted multiple times and sending multiple payments. The scheme was allegedly perpetrated through businesses Shine created and operated in Rhode Island, including Lucky Dog, LLC, d/b/a Premium Ops & Incentives, and Destiny Merchandise, LLC, d/b/a Independent Catalog Services.
It is alleged that deceptive solicitations conveyed a false impression that recipients had been individually pre-selected or verified and entitled to claim a large amount of money in a lottery or entitled to receive a valuable item. In the mailings, often-time personalized with the name of the recipient to bolster their apparent authenticity, recipients were instructed to send money, frequently by a deadline, to a PO Box in Providence for the “processing” or “handling” of their purported winnings. The mailings were printed on official-looking or certificate paper, frequently carried what appeared to be the seals of governments or government agencies, and frequently contained other language and details designed to make them appear official or legitimate, including bar codes, document control numbers, printing that appears to be rubber stamped, such as the phrase “authorized document,” highlighted text, bank-check style typeface and formatting, as well as identification and other codes. In reality, apart from the name and address of the recipient, it is alleged that the mailings were all identical form mailings.
The solicitations used selectively emphasized text and graphics to create a false overall impression that the recipients were receiving notices that they were already winners of substantial awards. In reality, not only did recipients not win any prize, but that the mailers did nothing to verify that the recipients were or are eligible for such a prize.
An investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Attorney’s Office revealed that sweepstakes solicitations were sent to recipients in forty-one states. The investigation conservatively estimated that the number of responses and payments received in response to the solicitations at nearly 50,000 per year.
A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Denise M. Barton and Peter I. Roklan, as well Trial Attorneys Charles B. Dunn, Ann F. Entwistle, and Colin W. Trundle from the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch.
The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island.
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indictment.pdfProvidence Businesswoman Arraigned in Federal Court in Alleged Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme Targeting Seniors and Other Vulnerable VictimsRead the Press Release
A Rhode Island woman was arraigned today following indictment on June 17, by a federal grand jury on charges of mail fraud and conspiracy for operating a direct-mail sweepstakes scheme that defrauded seniors and other vulnerable individuals across the country out of more than $10 million dollars.
According to court documents, Megan E. Shine, 47, of Warwick, utilized the U.S. Mail to engage in a predatory mail fraud scheme that duped the elderly and other vulnerable individuals into sending payments, usually between $20 and $30 dollars, using mailings that falsely led recipients to believe they were entitled to cash prizes or other valuable items or benefits. Many victims reported being contacted multiple times and sending multiple payments. The scheme was allegedly perpetrated through businesses Shine created and operated in Rhode Island, including Lucky Dog LLC, doing business as Premium Ops & Incentives, and Destiny Merchandise LLC, doing business as Independent Catalog Services.
“Mass mail fraud schemes defraud elderly and vulnerable consumers out of millions of dollars every year,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its law enforcement partners are committed to vigorously pursuing all individuals who prey on vulnerable and elderly victims through these types of fraudulent schemes.”
“Preying on the hopes of elderly and vulnerable victims for profit, and using fraudulent mailings to persuade them to part with their hard-earned money takes a terrible toll- financially and mentally,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha for the District of Rhode Island. “Working with our partners at the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, the Postal Inspection Service and federal, state and local law enforcement, we are determined to ensure that those who seek to profit from fraud are held accountable.”
According to the indictment, Shine mailed deceptive solicitations that led recipients to believe they had been individually pre-selected or verified and entitled to claim a large amount of money in a lottery or entitled to receive a valuable item. In the mailings (often personalized with the name of the recipient to bolster their apparent authenticity), recipients were instructed to send money, frequently by a deadline, to a post office box in Providence for the “processing” or “handling” of their purported winnings. The mailings were printed on official-looking or certificate paper, frequently carried what appeared to be the seals of governments or government agencies, and frequently contained other language and details designed to make them appear official or legitimate, including bar codes, document control numbers, printing that appears to be rubber stamped, such as the phrase “authorized document,” highlighted text, bank-check style typeface and formatting, as well as identification and other codes. In reality, all of the mailings were identical (apart from the name and address of the recipient).
The solicitations contained text and graphics that created a false overall impression that the recipients were already winners of substantial awards, often totaling millions of dollars. In reality, recipients had not won a prize. Instead, according to the indictment, Shine sent victims a booklet containing publicly available sweepstakes rules or a small and inexpensive piece of jewelry.
Shine is charged with four counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy. If convicted, Shine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The United States Postal Inspection Service is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Charles Dunn, Ann Entwistle and Colin Trundle of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise M. Barton and Peter I. Roklan for the District of Rhode Island are prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
President of Freight Forwarding Company Indicted for Allegedly Smuggling Goods from the United States to RussiaRead the Press Release
A citizen of Belarus and lawful permanent resident of the United States has been indicted for allegedly smuggling goods from the United States into Russia without a license.
Kirill Gordei, 34, of Hallandale, Florida, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States; one count of smuggling goods from the United States; and one count of export of a spectrometer, which is a commerce control item. Gordei was arrested on June 30 in Florida and made an initial appearance in the Southern District of Florida today. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
“As alleged, Gordei defrauded U.S. government export regulators and smuggled advanced scientific technology to Russian customers, placing personal profit over national security,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will use every available tool to disrupt illicit supply chains used to illegally funnel sophisticated technologies to Russia and other hostile powers.”
“Freight forwarders play an outsized role in the export of items overseas and, accordingly, are expected to help uphold the law rather than subvert it,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “Here, Kirill Gordei — the president of a freight forwarding company — is alleged to have willfully evaded restrictions designed to degrade the Russian war machine by obfuscating the value and ultimate destination of a mass spectrometer.”
“By allegedly smuggling sensitive technology to Russia, Mr. Gordei undermined the critical framework established to protect national security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “This case highlights the importance of enforcing export controls, especially regarding sensitive items on the Controlled Commerce List, which include technologies vital to scientific and industrial advancement. Our office will prosecute those who attempt to circumvent U.S. laws for personal or commercial gain, particularly when such actions have potential implications for global security.”
According to court documents, Gordei is the President of Apelsin Logistics (Apelsin), a freight forwarding company, located in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Apelsin also has an address in Russia and two websites, both of which are registered and hosted in Russia.
According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 11, 2023, Gordei allegedly falsely claimed that he was shipping an Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 Mass Spectrometer – an item that delivers high data quality and versatility to accelerate scientific discovery for academic and industry research and government and omics laboratories – to Uzbekistan when it was, in fact, destined for Russia.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, a series of stringent export controls were implemented that restrict Russia’s access to the technologies and other items that it needs to sustain its attack on Ukraine. As of April 8, 2022, license requirements for exports, reexports and transfers to or within Russia were expanded to cover the most sensitive items subject to controls on a Controlled Commerce List. The spectrometer, valued at over $600,000, was on the Controlled Commerce List and required a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to export to Russia.
If convicted, Gordei faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge; up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for the unlawful exports charge; and up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for smuggling goods from the United States. A U.S. district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Commerce Department’s BIS is investigating the case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Marshals Service and Transportation Security Administration provided valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan for the District of Massachusetts is prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Christopher Magnani of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
This action was coordinated through the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states. Under the leadership of the Assistant Attorney General of the National Security Division and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, the Strike Force leverages tools and authorities across the U.S. government to enhance the criminal and administrative enforcement of export control laws.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Pelham Woman Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing a FirearmRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Pelham woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to making a false statement to acquire a firearm, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Rebecca Aubuchont, 28, pleaded guilty to making a false statement in connection with acquiring a firearm for her then-partner, James Aubuchont. U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for October 17, 2024. James pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of two firearms and ammunition on June 13, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 20, 2024.
In July 2023, a state warrant was issued for James’s arrest in connection with an aggravated felonious sexual assault. Law enforcement arrested him on July 12, 2023, near the Flat Mountain Pond Shelter in the White Mountains. During a recorded jailhouse call, James asked Rebecca to retrieve his two “fishing rods” from the campsite, including one that “we got from VJ, remember the one you bought?” Three days later, law enforcement recovered a rifle and pistol from James’s campsite, along with over 2,000 rounds of ammunition. Rebecca had purchased the rifle from a firearms dealer operated by an individual with the first and middle initials V.J. with the intention of giving the gun to James.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms led the investigation. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Forest Service provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Tiffany A. Scanlon are prosecuting the case.
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Pascagoula Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Pascagoula, Mississippi man pleaded guilty to distribution of images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents, Tyrone Lewis, 20, had sexual contact with a 14-year-old in Jackson County, Mississippi, and recorded some of the sexual acts on a cell phone. Further investigation, including an analysis of the victim’s cell phone, revealed that Lewis sent the victim videos of himself and the victim engaging in sexual activity. The cell phone also contained a text message which confirmed Lewis knew the victim was a minor.
Lewis pleaded guilty to distribution of images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10, 2024, and faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Orlando Man Found Guilty of Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl That Resulted in DeathRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Joel David Fonseca Flores (42, Orlando) guilty of conspiring to distribute fentanyl that resulted in death. He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 7, 2024.
Fonseca Flores and his co-conspirator, Misty Lynn Parady, were charged by superseding indictment on August 16, 2023. Count one of the superseding indictment charged Fonseca Flores and Parady with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, resulting in N.K.’s death, as described above. Count two charged Fonseca Flores and Parady with aiding and abetting in the possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and cocaine. Count three charged Flores with knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Fonseca Flores pleaded guilty to counts two and three of the superseding indictment on June 3, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, Fonseca Flores and Parady sold fake “M30” pills laced with fentanyl to the victim, N.K. Between April 2020 and April 2022, Fonseca Flores and Parady sold N.K. what she, at first, believed to be oxycodone. After some time, N.K. realized that the pills she was buying from them contained fentanyl.
Specifically, on October 31, 2021, N.K. warned Parady by text message that N.K. had tested positive for fentanyl. Parady relayed that information to Fonseca Flores. Then, again on March 31, 2022, within days of purchasing “M30” pills from Fonseca Flores, N.K. sent a text message to Parady containing an image of her drug test, showing that N.K. had tested negative for oxycodone and positive for fentanyl.
Despite these and other warnings, Fonseca Flores and Parady continued to supply N.K. with the counterfeit fentanyl pills, and N.K. ultimately died from a fentanyl overdose on April 4, 2022.
Parady pleaded guilty to a superseding information on May 24, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for August 26, 2024.
Pursuant to the superseding indictment, Fonseca Flores must also forfeit all firearms and ammunition involved in or used in the charged offenses, including, but not limited to a Ruger 9mm pistol and associated ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Orlando Police Department Overdose Unit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kara M. Wick and Stephanie McNeff.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 27 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Percy J. Bush, 40, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 2, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for production of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Bush to 324 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bush’s release from prison, he will begin a life term of supervised release. Bush was also ordered to pay $63,000 in restitution to the victims of his crime.
On December 11, 2022, an FBI Child Exploitation Task Force Officer based in Washington, D.C., was acting in an undercover capacity as part of a Child Exploitation Task Force. The undercover officer was investigating a fetish website where users were known to trade original images of underage children and links containing child pornography. A user using the screen name, ‘Jedipb01,’ eventually identified as Percy Bush, initiated a private chat with the undercover officer within the fetish website and on KIK instant messenger.
During the chat, Bush sent the undercover officer an image of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor victim who was 6-8 years old. Law enforcement determined that between March 2022 and December 2022, Bush used the minor victim to produce visual depictions of the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. During the chat with the undercover officer, Bush also sent a Mega link containing videos depicting preteen girls and boys being sexually abused by adults.
On December 11, 2022, a search was executed by the FBI at an Omaha residence where Bush had been located. A forensic examination of Bush’s phone and several email accounts identified approximately 101 video files and 1,481 image files of child sexual abuse material. The age range of the children depicted in the materials was between 2 and 14 years old.
Bush was convicted previously of possession of child pornography in 2016 in Douglas County District Court.
This case was investigated by the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Trafficking Counterfeit GoodsRead the Press Release
Shane Burdue, 46, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced to 14 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary trafficking in counterfeit goods. He was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release and pay $4,081.50 in restitution to the Coalition to Advance Protection of Sports Logos (CAPS).
Burdue began receiving international shipments, which included counterfeit goods, in July 2014 according to court documents. Between 2014 and 2023 more than 800 international shipments, mostly from China, were destined for various addresses associated with Burdue in Toledo. Several of these shipments, which contained counterfeit goods, were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He also received numerous Cease-and-Desist letters from CAPS, which is an alliance that coordinates trademark protection and enforcement matters for collegiate and national sports teams.
Despite the parcel seizures and receipt of Cease-and-Desist letters from CAPS, Burdue continued to sell counterfeit merchandise at different physical locations in Toledo, as well as online through the social media platform Facebook. Several of his Facebook accounts were deactivated when it was discovered he was dealing in counterfeit goods. Each time an account was deactivated, Burdue would create a new account to resume selling counterfeit goods through Facebook. In May 2023, authorities seized hundreds of items of counterfeit sports merchandise from his business, “Shane's Man Cave,” during a search warrant execution in Toledo. Items seized included counterfeit caps, jerseys and footwear which totaled more than $29,000 in Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. The counterfeit merchandise violated intellectual property rights from Nike, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Football League.
According to the “2021 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy,” counterfeit goods can pose safety hazards for both consumers and workers due to a lack of regulatory oversight. The counterfeit trade has also been linked to child labor, forced labor, and other criminal activity.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank H. Spryszak.
Newtown Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking in Northwest MissouriRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Newtown, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in conspiracies to distribute fentanyl in northwest Missouri and to wire the proceeds of drug trafficking to Mexico.
Lucas Ryan Coltrain, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to nine years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Coltrain to forfeit to the government $10,000, which represents the proceeds he received from drug trafficking.
On Feb. 6, 2024, Coltrain pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl from Oct. 27, 2020, to Jan. 24, 2023, and to participating in a conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, Coltrain distributed at least 5,662 fentanyl pills, pressed into pills that appear to be prescription pharmaceuticals by members of a Mexican cartel. Coltain’s Facebook message records show that he was receiving M30 pills “by the 1000s” and selling them for $40 a pill.
Coltrain admitted knowing that people were dying after taking the M30 pills, which he sold to friends. His sales continued even after the death of an acquaintance on July 17, 2021. Coltrain was hospitalized for a fentanyl overdose in August 2023, after he was released on bond in this case.
Coltrain admitted that he wired approximately $10,000 to $15,000 to Mexico. Those wire transfers represented the proceeds from the distribution of fentanyl.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Grundy County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Trenton, Mo., Police Department, the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Mercer County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Grundy County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
New Mexico Man is the Fifth Defendant Sentenced in a Grandparent Scam that Targeted Kentucky Victims and OthersRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A New Mexico man was sentenced last week to 1 year and 6 months in federal prison for his role in a sweeping “grandparent scam” that targeted victims in Kentucky and across the United States through Canadian-based call centers.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Cincinnati Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service made the announcement.
According to court documents, callers would convince senior victims that their grandchild or other family member had an emergency, usually a car accident, and urgently needed money from the victim. Co-conspirators posing as “couriers” would then collect cash from victims at home and others would launder the criminal proceeds, both through traditional banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. The charged wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy spanned from August 2020 to May 2021 and impacted hundreds of victims across the United States—including in Kentucky—who lost over $3 million in total.
Robert Louis Sanchez, 57, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was sentenced last week to 1 year and 6 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in April, for his role both as a courier and sometimes as the “safehouse” who would guard cash that was taken from victims.
Four other defendants have previously entered guilty pleas and have been sentenced in the case.
Jairo Ostia Roberts, 44, who traveled from Panama to the United States to act as a courier in the scheme, was sentenced on March 9, 2023, to 6 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release, for wire fraud conspiracy. Roberts was removed to Panama upon his release from U.S. Bureau of Prisons custody.
Panama Abel Diaz Adames, 39, who also traveled from Panama to the United States to act as a courier in the scheme, was sentenced on April 4, 2024, to 1 year and 4 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for wire fraud conspiracy.
Christopher Courcoulacos, 46, a Canadian citizen who had been residing in Panama, was considered a “manager or supervisor” within the conspiracy, and was sentenced on November 9, 2023, to 6 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for wire fraud conspiracy.
Mark Anthony Phillips, 44, of Ruskin, Florida, was sentenced on May 2, 2024, to 6 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to a money laundering conspiracy charged in the Western District of Kentucky, as well as pleading guilty to five additional money laundering counts, originally charged in the Western District of New York, which were transferred to Kentucky for guilty pleas and sentencing.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the IRS-CI and USSS with assistance from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne E. Keel prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the National Elder Justice Task Force and the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force. The Department of Justice’s mission of its Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. Kentucky’s task force is comprised of investigators, prosecutors, and others at the local, state, and federal level with a common objective of protecting seniors across Kentucky.
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New Haven Gang Member Admits Role in MurderRead the Press Release
QUAYMAR SUGGS, 20, of New Haven, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to a racketeering offense related to his participation in a violent New Haven street gang and the murder of an associate of a rival gang in May 2021.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address violence in New Haven, the ATF, FBI, DEA and New Haven Police Department, working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, have been investigating a gang war between members and associates of the Exit 8 street gang and rival gangs in the Hill section and other areas of the city. The Exit 8 gang is named after the geographic area accessed by exiting Interstate 91 at Exit 8 in New Haven. Recently, younger members of Exit 8 are identifying themselves with the word “Honcho,” which is derived from the street name of an Exit 8 member who was murdered on Quinnipiac Avenue in February 2020.
The investigation revealed that Suggs and other members of the Exit 8 gang engaged in drug trafficking, used and shared firearms, and, since June 2018, have committed at least three murders and 16 attempted murders. Exit 8 members and associates also stole vehicles, at times from outside of the state, and used those stolen vehicles when committing acts of violence. Gang members also promoted, coordinated, facilitated, and celebrated their narcotics distribution and acts of violence through text messaging and the use of social media applications and websites including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.
Suggs pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, including acts of violence, narcotics trafficking, and gun sales, and specifically admitted that, on May 19, 2021, he shot and killed an associate of a rival gang. Suggs also admitted that in 2021, he and other Exit 8 members broke into a Connecticut state trooper’s car and stole the trooper’s duty bag.
At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Suggs faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
Suggs has been detained since March 24, 2023.
This investigation is being conducted by ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the New Haven Police Department, the Hamden Police Department, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens, Rahul Kale and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Child Pornography PossessionRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU –U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Tuesday sentenced a man caught with over 3,000 images containing child sexual abuse material to five years in prison.
Jason M. Miller, 45, of Perryville, in Perry County, Missouri, was identified by a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation as someone who was sharing child sexual abuse online. On Sept. 3, 2022, two files were identified, which led to the discovery of more child sexual abuse material. Investigators traced the computer to Millers’ address, and after a court-approved search of his home, Miller confessed to downloading and viewing child pornography. He said he had been doing so since he was a teenager and was addicted to it. More than 3,000 images containing child sexual abuse material were eventually found on his electronic devices.
Miller pleaded guilty in April to one count of possession of child pornography.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Assault and Murder a United States Judge and Federal Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE—Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced today that a Jackson, Mississippi, man has pleaded guilty to one count of threatening to assault and murder a United States judge and one count of threatening to assault and murder a federal law enforcement officer. Joshua Matthew Goodin, 40, entered this guilty plea on Monday, July 1, 2024, before United States Magistrate Judge Christy D. Comstock.
United States District Judge Stephen R. Bough, Western District of Missouri, will sentence Goodin at a later date. Threatening a federal official is punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment, not more than three years of supervised release, and a fine of not more than $250,000.
The investigation into Goodin revealed that on or about July 5, 2022, while an inmate at the Washington County Detention Facility in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Goodin sent two letters to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Jackson, Mississippi. In the letter, Goodin stated in part, “I swear I’m going to kill you all, I’m gonna blow your f****** office up. …Your (sic) gonna die I promise nothing or no one will stop me.”
An investigation further revealed that Goodin sent a second letter stating in part, “I’m Joshua Goodin I was recently in Federal Court on a gun charge. The b**** ass d.a. (name redacted), he talked real bad about me. For that he will pay with his life, him and the judge don’t understand who I really am.”
Goodin was indicted on July 25, 2023.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Marshals Service.
Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Mannie Lamar Terry, also known as “Primo” and “J,” 37, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 27, 2023, Terry sold approximately 4.5 grams of fentanyl for $300 to a confidential informant in Beckley. Terry admitted to that transaction and to selling approximately 4.5 grams of fentanyl for $300 to the confidential informant in Beckley on March 13, 2023.
Terry is scheduled to be sentenced on October 25, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-59.
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Men Who Robbed 8 USPS Letter Carriers Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
The men responsible for eight mail carrier robberies have entered guilty pleas, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Jerrad Coleman, 18, and Louis Dixon, 18, were charged via criminal complaint in April. Mr. Dixon pleaded guilty on June 26 to robbery of property of the United States and conspiracy to rob and unlawfully possess property of the United States; Mr. Coleman pleaded guilty to the same charges on July 2.
“The U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will never cease placing employee safety as one of our top priorities,” said Inspector in Charge Kai Pickens, Fort Worth Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Let this serve as a warning to anyone who seeks to harm and traumatize our employees: The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will utilize every resource to find you and bring you to justice. I appreciate our partnerships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office as well as the Arlington Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, and Frisco Police Department, which assisted with the investigation into Mr. Coleman and Mr. Dixon.”
According to court documents, the men trawled the streets of DFW looking for U.S. Postal Service letter carriers to rob in hopes of obtaining an Arrow Key, a master key used by letter carriers to gather mail deposited in blue collection boxes. Unauthorized possession of these keys, prized by mail thieves, allows individuals to illicitly access mailboxes to steal victim mail, checks, credit cards, bank account information, and other sensitive information.
Over the course of about four months, the men conspired to commit robberies against U.S. Postal Service Letter Carriers, including those on Jan. 17 in Fort Worth, Jan. 18 in Fort Worth, Jan. 25 in Dallas, Jan. 29 in Dallas, March 15 in Fort Worth, March 28 in Arlington, April 4 in Frisco, and April 17 in Fort Worth.
After robbing the mail carriers, often at gunpoint, the men fled in getaway vehicles. They then unlawfully used, sold, or disposed of the Arrow Keys.
Both men now face up to 15 years in federal prison.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with the help of the Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Frisco Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas is prosecutingMember of Violent Bridgeport Gang Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
MICHAEL LOCKHART, also known as “Mikey RTN,” 25, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 108 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts of violence. Lockhart was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers, and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes. They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities.
On June 1, 2021, Lockhart was arrested after a search of his Roberts Street residence revealed large bags of marijuana; numerous items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, including thousands of glassine bags typically used to package fentanyl and heroin; five Glock handguns; three empty boxes for other Glock handguns; and extended magazines, ammunition, body armor, and other gun accessories. Lockhart shared the residence with Jamar Traylor, also a member of O.N.E. Laboratory analysis of the seized items revealed that presence of Lockhart’s DNA on one of the handguns and a magazine. Both Lockhart and Traylor were on state probation at the time of the search.
Lockhart has been detained since his arrest. On September 13, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Approximately 47 members and associates of the East End, O.N.E. and the GHB/Hotz gangs have been convicted of federal offenses stemming from this investigation, which has solved eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders.
Traylor, also known as “J-Hop,” pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity and, on February 6, 2023, was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, Waterbury Police Department, and Naugatuck Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Tara E. Levens, Patrick J. Doherty, Rahul Kale, and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state, and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Mathis woman imprisoned for trafficking meth packages through mailRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 46-year-old woman has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute liquid meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Elena Barrera pleaded guilty Nov. 7, 2023.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Barrera to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described how Barrera had acted as a leader in the conspiracy by recruiting and paying another individual to receive meth for her. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the severity of the conduct and that Barrera had received at least six packages of narcotics.
The investigation into Barrera began in November 2020 when authorities learned of a parcel containing liquid meth that was being shipped from Mexico to Mathis. Law enforcement intercepted the package and found it contained approximately seven kilograms of liquid meth concealed within shampoo bottles. Authorities conducted a controlled delivery at the post office and Barrera picked up the package.
As part of her plea, Barrera admitted to using the mail to receive multiple other packages of narcotics and to recruiting others to retrieve packages of narcotics for her.
Barrera previously was ordered detained. Barrera will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Foster prosecuted the case.
Marijuana Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DELROY ANDERSON, also known as “Max,” 57, formerly of Stamford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to leading a money laundering conspiracy related to his large-scale trafficking of marijuana.
According to court documents and statements made in court, for approximately five years, Anderson conspired with others to launder proceeds from a marijuana trafficking operation by paying for marijuana cultivation, package shipping, electricity, and air travel expenses with the proceeds. He also deposited the drug trafficking proceeds into multiple bank accounts opened in the name of Maximillion Enterprises Inc., and structured deposits to evade reporting requirements under federal law. Between 2015 and 2019, Anderson operated marijuana cultivation farms in Santa Rosa, California, and Willits, California, and he employed others to grow, harvest, package, and ship the marijuana for distribution in Connecticut, Virginia, New York, and elsewhere.
In February 2020, Anderson and his co-conspirators, Kelvin Jackson, and Stephanie Atkinson, were charged by indictment with various money laundering offenses. On February 18, 2022, Anderson, who had been released on bond pending trial, was scheduled to appear before Judge Dooley for a guilty plea proceeding. He failed to appear for that court proceeding and ceased contact with his attorney and the U.S. Probation Office.
On November 8, 2023, the U.S. Marshals Service located and arrested Anderson in Dallas, Texas. He has been detained since his arrest.
Anderson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Anderson also agreed to forfeit his interest in multiple bank accounts associated with the charged conspiracy.
Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for September 16.
Jackson, of Bristol, Virginia, and Atkinson, of Stamford, previously pleaded guilty to the same charge and await sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Stamford Police Department, and the Sonoma County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A New Orleans man pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Yancy Johnson, 45, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, in 2023, an investigation was initiated into a possible drug trafficking organization operating in Louisiana and the Southern District of Mississippi. Agents received information that narcotics were to be delivered at the Silver Slipper Casino in Hancock County. Yancy Johnson was arrested by law enforcement when he arrived at the Silver Slipper Casino to carry out the drug transaction. Agents recovered one ounce of fentanyl from Johnson which he had intended to sell to an individual at the casino.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.
Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2024, and faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Hancock County Sherriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Kearney Man Sentenced for Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Joseph Luis Garcia, 31, of Kearney, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 2, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Garcia to 48 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Garcia is release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On February 10, 2022, Garcia was the driver and sole occupant of a vehicle which was stopped by police in Buffalo County, Nebraska. Garcia admitted he had methamphetamine in his pocket, which an officer found when he searched Garcia. Officers then searched the car Garcia had been driving. A digital scale and glass pipe were found in the center counsel. A black bag was found sitting on the back seat. Inside the bag police found 9mm ammunition. Garcia was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he was an unlawful user of controlled substances, and due to prior convictions for felony offenses.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Kearney Police Department. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Kansas School District Regarding School Discipline, Law Enforcement and Seclusion and RestraintRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today a settlement agreement to resolve the department’s investigation into race and disability discrimination in Wichita Public Schools, Kansas’ largest school district. Under the settlement, the district will revise practices to prevent discrimination in discipline and referrals of students to law enforcement, end the use of seclusion, reform its restraint practices and improve services to students with disabilities in certain schools and classrooms.
The department’s investigation revealed, among other things, that the district’s Black students were disciplined more frequently and more severely than white students who engaged in similar conduct and had similar backgrounds and disciplinary histories. This pattern was most evident when it came to subjective offenses such as insubordination, and was especially stark when it came to discipline of Black girls, whose behavior was repeatedly characterized using stereotypical terms like “attitude” or “drama.” In addition, the investigation concluded that the district inappropriately and repeatedly secluded and restrained students with disabilities and relegated those with the greatest behavioral needs to inferior facilities with inadequate services and support.
“Black students inside our nation’s public schools should not have to face discipline or a referral to law enforcement because of their race. And students with disabilities should not have to experience the trauma of seclusion or improper restraint,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Schools in our communities should not be a place of fear or mistrust. This agreement upholds our core principles of ending the school to prison pipeline and protecting our most vulnerable students against all forms of discrimination and segregation.”
The school district fully cooperated with the investigation, which was conducted under Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The department’s review uncovered discriminatory treatment of Black students in the administration of discipline at multiple schools, with Black girls facing especially high levels of exclusion for perceived insubordination and for dress code violations at certain middle schools. The department’s investigation also found evidence of racial discrimination in referrals to law enforcement and a pattern of security officers responding to routine discipline matters and escalating those incidents, resulting in the unnecessary referral of Black students to law enforcement for routine or minor misbehavior.
In addition, the department’s investigation concluded that the district inappropriately and repeatedly secluded and restrained students with disabilities, including for punitive reasons or in response to noncompliance with school rules and staff directives. During the period covered by the investigation, students with disabilities received more than 98% of the district’s roughly 3,000 restraints and seclusions. At least 44 students experienced 20 or more restraints and seclusions during the period covered by the investigation and one student was restrained or secluded at least 144 times, including 99 seclusions lasting over 15 hours in total. In the district’s schools and classrooms for students with disabilities — where the vast majority of seclusions and restraints occurred — the district either lacked student behavior interventions or failed to implement them and ensure their effectiveness. When the department visited the district’s special schools for students with behavioral disabilities, it found inferior facilities devoid of furniture, educational equipment and the kinds of decor commonly found in schools, and staff who could not meet the needs of students.
Under the agreement, the district will, among other steps:
- Develop a district-wide code of conduct, standardize dress code policies and create a behavior intervention protocol to ensure the nondiscriminatory administration of discipline and prohibit unnecessary exclusion of students from the school environment;
- Create a system of district-level monitoring of schools’ administration of discipline to ensure nondiscrimination;
- Ensure that school security and law enforcement only become involved in student misbehavior in appropriate circumstances and thereby avoid criminalizing routine school discipline matters;
- Eliminate the use of seclusion;
- Restrain students only when their behavior poses an imminent danger of serious physical harm to the student or another person, properly document all restraints and provide students who are restrained or secluded with required interventions;
- Ensure that only professionals with the requisite expertise and training run and staff specialized schools for students with disabilities;
- Provide counseling and compensatory education to students who have been repeatedly secluded; and
- Create an office to monitor the district’s restraint practices (and seclusion until it is eliminated) to ensure compliance with the agreement and assist district staff in providing required interventions and supports.
Today is the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Enforcement of Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect students from race discrimination in school is a priority of the Civil Rights Division. In addition, this agreement is the most recent in a series of settlements under Title II of the ADA to address and prevent unlawful seclusion and restraint of students with disabilities in public schools. To learn more about the section’s work under the ADA to combat improper seclusion in schools, visit www.justice.gov/schoolseclusion.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section’s work is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.
View the cover letter sent to Wichita Public Schools in English here.
View the cover letter sent to Wichita Public Schools in Spanish here.
View the summary of the settlement agreement in English here.
View the summary of the settlement agreement in Spanish here.
Jury Convicts Wilmington Career Offender Who Ditched Loaded Glock in the Bushes After Evading Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. announced today that a federal jury convicted Wilmington career offender Desmond Antonio Hines, aka “Head,” of illegally possessing a gun as a felon after law enforcement recovered a loaded Glock handgun with an extended magazine that Hines tossed in azalea bushes before he could be arrested on a pending federal drug indictment. Hines has previous convictions for drug trafficking and assault, including a prior federal drug conviction. Hines, age 35, is considered a career offender and is facing up to 15 years in prison for this charge when sentenced later this year. At that time, he will also be sentenced for a drug charge he pled guilty to last year, a crime punishable with up to 30 years in prison.
“Azaleas have long held special significance to the City of Wilmington. Today they held the key to solving a crime – the critical trial evidence that took an armed felon off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “I personally tried this case because this defendant, who went by the alias ‘Head,’ made crime his life’s work. When detectives with the Wilmington Police Department went to arrest him on federal drug charges, he evaded law enforcement, ditched a loaded Glock in a patch of bright pink azaleas, and drove away. Thanks to concerned citizens, advanced forensics, and the dedication of the Wilmington Police Department and ATF, there is one less gun on our streets.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Wilmington Police stopped Hines for traffic violations November 7, 2020. Upon approaching the car, the officer noticed an odor of marijuana and asked Hines to step out of the car to conduct a search. A blunt and some marijuana were found in the car, and during the search of Hines, the officer felt what he believed to be a metal object between the defendant’s legs. While the officer attempted to secure handcuffs, Hines tried to flee but was tackled by the officer. A subsequent search of Hines conducted at the police station uncovered a bag containing 10 oxycodone pills and about 17 grams of crack cocaine.
On March 31, 2022, Detectives attempted to arrest Hines on federal charges related to the November 7 incident. Officers surveilled him driving a new Chrysler minivan. At one point during surveillance, officers lost sight of Hines after he made a series of evasive maneuvers. After officers located Hines and placed him into custody, 911 dispatch reported a call from area residents who saw a man meeting Hines’ description and driving a minivan stop the vehicle, walk to a patch of azalea bushes, and toss something into the bushes before driving off. Upon pulling back the bushes, witnesses saw a firearm. Police responded to the scene, which was approximately ½ mile from where Hines was arrested and recovered a semi-automatic Glock 27 Gen 4 .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine containing 20 live rounds of ammunition. Ten of those rounds were a distinctive, red-tipped round known as Hornady Critical Defense. When executing a search warrant at the Defendant’s residence, detectives found a box of the same ammunition, with ten rounds missing. Later, testing of the firearm confirmed that Hines’ DNA was present.
“As is evident with this case, this man was a dangerous threat to public safety. Our agency will continue to relentlessly pursue criminals who decide to possess and distribute illegal narcotics within our city limits. Additionally, we will ensure that felons are held accountable for their actions when they decide to possess weapons illegally. The work our officers and detectives have put into this case is yet another example of our continued commitment to combatting drugs and gun violence in the City of Wilmington,” said Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the verdict. The Wilmington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case and U.S. Attorney Michael Easley and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blondel are prosecuting the case.
The conviction is a result of the ongoing Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative which is a collaborative effort with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working with the community, to identify and address the most significant drivers of violent crime. VCAP involves focused and strategic enforcement, and interagency coordination and intelligence-led policing.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.7:22-cr-36-M.
Jefferson County man sentenced for federal firearms violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Port Arthur man was sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Johnathon Andre Granger, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 2, 2024.
According to information presented in court, on August 4, 2023, local law enforcement executed a search warrant at Granger’s Port Arthur residence. During the search, Granger was found asleep in a bedroom with a firearm nearby. In all, three firearms, 19 grams of cocaine, and nearly $3,000 cash were found in the home.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Port Arthur Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tommy Coleman.
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Jefferson County man guilty of federal violation related to gas station robberyRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Nederland man has pleaded guilty to a federal violation in relation to an armed robbery of a gas station in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Tarrell Donald Nowlin, 53, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson on July 2, 2024.
According to court documents, on January 16, 2024, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the Speedway Gas Station located at 2795 Eastex Freeway in Beaumont for a reported robbery. According to the store clerk, a dark-colored Dodge Caravan pulled into the parking lot of the business and parked near one of the gas pumps. The driver, described as a white male, entered the business wearing a black mask, blue latex gloves, and a gray hat. The driver pointed a silver revolver at the clerk and demanded cash. The clerk opened the cash register and the driver took approximately $550 cash and left the store. The investigation identified Nowlin as the subject.
Nowlin faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Beaumont Police Department, and Nederland Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Quinn.
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Illegal Possession of Firearm and Meth Lands Norman Man in Federal Prison for 25 YearsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – DUSTIN LANCE POWELL, 48, of Norman, has been sentenced to serve 300 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On May 3, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a four-count Indictment against Powell, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. According to public record, in March 2023, Powell was found to be possessing several firearms, as well as over 500 grams of methamphetamine and over 40 grams of fentanyl.
On November 28, 2023, Powell pleaded guilty and admitted to illegally possessing a firearm after his previous felony convictions and illegally possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the substance.
On June 28, 2024, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Powell to serve 300 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Wyrick noted his possession of ten firearms in this case, including a Heavy Counter Assault Rifle, as well as the extent and nature of Powell’s criminal history.
Public record further reflects that Powell has several previous felony convictions, including attempting to elude a police officer in Grady County District Court case number CF-2004-41, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of paraphernalia in Cleveland County District Court case number CF-200-338, and malicious injury to property in Cleveland County District Court case number CF-2007-955.
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Norman Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Gridley prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Human Smuggling Guide Sentenced to 120 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
A Mexican citizen was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for his role in a dangerous human smuggling conspiracy.
Jesus Ernesto Dessens-Romero, 28, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Hinderaker for the District of Arizona. In November 2023, Dessens-Romero was found guilty of multiple alien smuggling offenses by a jury, including conspiracy to transport and transportation of illegal aliens for profit and bringing in illegal aliens to the United States for profit. The jury also found that Dessens-Romero placed human life in jeopardy during and in relation to these offenses.
“Human smugglers profit from the exploitation of migrants and routinely expose them to violence, injury, and death,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today’s sentence shows the Justice Department will continue to hold accountable these smugglers and the criminal networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants.”
Evidence presented at trial established that Dessens-Romero was the human smuggling foot guide for five Mexican nationals who illegally crossed into the United States on or about Feb. 13, 2021. The group included three sisters – ages 23, 20, and 17 – and their family friend, age 16. Dessens-Romero led the individuals under his care into the rugged and remote Huachuca Mountains near Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona. He led the group on this perilous route due to less law enforcement presence. The group had limited food and water, and at night, suffered through serious weather conditions including freezing temperatures and snow.
By Feb. 15, 2021, the 23-year-old sister was in significant physical distress. She was unable to eat, walk, or follow simple commands. Dessens-Romero told the group that they were close enough to a traveled roadway where the sick woman could be found if the group left her behind. Dessens-Romero did not call emergency services. Instead, he located cell phone reception at higher ground to call a transnational criminal smuggling organization. Dessens-Romero then led the rest of the group to Sierra Vista where they were picked up by unidentified co-conspirators and transported further into the United States.
The family of the woman left behind contacted authorities on Feb. 16, 2021, to report a missing person. Despite extensive search efforts by U.S. Border Patrol, military officials from Fort Huachuca, Cochise County Sheriff’s Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), she was not located. During this time, Dessens-Romero contacted the surviving sisters on behalf of the smuggling organization to try to convince them to remove a “missing person” social media post. In the months following, HSI worked collaboratively with SOS Búsqueda y Rescate, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding missing migrants, to continue searching for the missing woman. On Nov. 20, 2021, members of SOS Búsqueda y Rescate located skeletal remains in an isolated area of the Huachuca Mountains, on Fort Huachuca property. Dental records confirmed that the remains belonged to the missing 23-year-old sister. The deceased is survived by her husband and daughter.
At trial, additional evidence confirmed that Dessens-Romero continued to smuggle undocumented non-citizens within the United States until June 2021. Dessens-Romero was arrested on June 30, 2021, by Tennessee Highway Patrol while transporting two migrants.
This case was a result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). Attorney General Garland established JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Justice Department, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling in the Darién in June 2024. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and supported by the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training; the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; the Office of Enforcement Operations; the Office of International Affairs; and the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in 313 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; more than 251 U.S. convictions; more than 186 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
The HSI Douglas Field Office investigated the case, in coordination with the Fort Huachuca Army Criminal Investigation Division, Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, HSI-Nashville Field Office, and Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case.
Honduran Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Erlin Maradiaga-Flores (31, Honduras) today pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Maradiaga-Flores faces a penalty of two years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, E-Verify is a web-based system through which employers electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees. E-Verify is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The SSA and USCIS check submitted information against the records of actual persons who are authorized to work in the United States. E-Verify is a voluntary program for employers and requires documents such as a Social Security number and photo identification of a prospective employee.
From at least 2022 through May 2024, Maradiaga-Flores used another person’s means of identification in order to defeat the E-Verify system and to commit the felony offenses of misuse of a Social Security number and false claim of United States citizenship for employment purposes.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the United States Border Patrol, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Lawrenceville, Georgia man was sentenced to 42 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on May 15, 2023, Martin Louis Williams, 35, was pulled over in a traffic stop on Interstate 10 in Hancock County, Mississippi. Williams’s vehicle smelled like marijuana and he admitted that he had smoked marijuana earlier in the day. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded 1000 pills stamped with a “Facebook” logo. The pills were confirmed to be 251.5 grams of methamphetamine at 5% purity mixed with caffeine. Williams was interviewed and admitted that he was taking the pills to Georgia to be sold.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose prosecuted the case.
Former Used-Car Dealer Convicted of $3 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Mitchell Simpson, who orchestrated a $3 million scheme to defraud companies that provided floor-plan financing to his used-car dealership, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
“This defendant abused the trust of the companies that loaned him money to operate his car dealership,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We will continue to prosecute individuals motivated by greed who use illegal practices to deceive unsuspecting businesses.”
“Simpson deceived the lenders who placed their trust in him and now he will be held accountable for his greed,” said Mitchell Jackson, Senior Supervisory Special Agent, of FBI Atlanta’s Gainesville Office. “As this conviction demonstrates, the FBI will not tolerate anyone who fraudulently steals or takes money that they did not earn.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: From early 2012 through early 2019, Simpson operated Mitch Simpson Motors, a used car dealership in Cleveland, Georgia. Three floor-plan lenders, Dealer Financial Holdings LLC, Americash Advance, Inc., and Floorplan Xpress, LLC-OK, each provided Simpson with a revolving line of credit, also known as floor-plan financing, so that Simpson could purchase an inventory of vehicles to re-sell to customers. Each line of credit was governed by a written contract, also known as a floor-plan financing agreement. Simpson was required to abide by the terms and conditions of the agreements, and he was required to provide the floor-plan lenders with complete and truthful information concerning all matters related to the agreements.
When Simpson wanted to borrow money to purchase a vehicle to add to his dealership’s inventory, he would contact one of the floor-plan lenders and provide that lender with a description of the vehicle, including the vehicle identification number, and the amount of the loan requested. If the vehicle was subject to any other liens or security interests, Simpson was required to disclose that fact to the floor-plan lender. If Simpson led the lender to believe that the vehicle was not subject to any other liens or security interests, the lender would transfer the requested funds to Simpson’s custody and control. In return for the loan, the dealership would grant the floor-plan lender a purchase-money security interest in the vehicle. Simpson was required to keep the vehicle free from all other liens and security interests until sold.
Simpson defrauded the floor-plan lenders by using a single vehicle as collateral for more than one floor-plan loan, which is a deceptive and illegal practice referred to in the used-car industry as double floor-planning and triple floor-planning –a practice expressly prohibited by the floor-plan financing agreements.
To hide the double and triple floor-planning, Simpson made false and misleading statements and omitted material facts in his communications with the floor-plan lenders. Also, whenever Simpson sold a vehicle in which one of the floor-plan lenders held a security interest, Simpson was required to hold the proceeds from the sale of that vehicle in trust for the secured lender and promptly pay the secured lender all amounts due under the applicable floor-plan financing agreement.
But Simpson did not always pay the floor-plan lenders, as required. In addition, he played a shell game with vehicle titles and did not always provide truthful information to lenders concerning the location of vehicles and concerning whether vehicles had been sold. This is an illegal practice referred to in the used-car industry as operating “out of trust,” which was expressly prohibited by the floor-plan financing agreements. Simpson’s fraudulent scheme resulted in a loss of more than $3 million to the floor-plan lenders.
Sentencing for Mitchell C. Simpson, 56, of Cornelia, Georgia, is scheduled for October 8, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones in Gainesville, Georgia.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Russell Phillips and David A. O’Neal are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Maryland Resident Sentenced in Theft of More than $350,000 in COVID-19 Relief FundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Zhong Jie Chen, 47, formerly of Randolph, Maryland, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for misappropriating $354,520 of COVID-19 relief funds that he was supposed to use to operate his restaurants during the pandemic. Chen used the funds to engage in day trading. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division.
Chen, who now lives in New Jersey, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on February 28, 2024, to wire fraud. In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Christopher R. Cooper ordered Chen to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $369,087 in restitution.
In court documents, Chen admitted that, while he was a Maryland resident, he was the sole owner of two Shanghai Tokyo Café restaurants, one in the District’s Columbia Heights neighborhood, and the other in College Park, MD. Between May 2020 and July 2021, he applied for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) loans for the two eateries.
The Paycheck Protection Program was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the U.S. government’s Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. Once the PPP loan applications were approved, businesses received loan proceeds from third-party lenders. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA also offered EIDL loans to certain entities, including small business owners. These loans were provided directly from the SBA and were low-interest, fixed-rate, long term loans. Both PPP loans and EIDL loans could only be used for specified purposes.
Between May 2020 and July 2021, Chen’s two restaurants received PPP and EIDL loans totaling approximately $964,843. On loan applications, Chen acknowledged understanding how the loans could be used and that if he knowingly used funds for unauthorized purposes, he could be held legally liable by the federal government, and potentially charged with fraud.
Chen admitted that he falsely certified that all loan proceeds would be used for business-related purposes even though he knew and intended that he would misappropriate some loan proceeds to a personal investment account to allow him to engage in day trading. He admitted that he misappropriated $354,520 of loan proceeds and used those funds to engage in day trading through his Robinhood and TD Ameritrade accounts.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kondi Kleinman and Ryan Sellinger, who were assisted by paralegal specialists Sonalika Chaturvedi and Michon Tart.
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Former City of Miami Police Officer Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Attempted Cocaine Trafficking and Attempted Hobbs Act ExtortionRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Frenel Cenat, a former police officer with the City of Miami Police Department (MPD) was sentenced today to 135 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, by Senior U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn in Fort Lauderdale. Cenat previously pled guilty to attempted Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right and attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The charges arose from the use of his police position and authority, and his unmarked MPD-issued vehicle and equipment to conduct two illegal traffic stops to steal what he believed were drug proceeds and seven kilograms of cocaine from the drivers.
“The vast majority of the law enforcement officers in this district and throughout this country perform their very difficult jobs with respect for their communities and in compliance with the law,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Former police officer Frenel Cenat tarnished his badge when he abused his position and authority. His actions do not speak for the larger law enforcement community. Rather, today’s sentencing is a reminder that no one is above the law. I would like to thank our partners at the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and MPD, in particular the FBI’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency and the Miami Area Corruption Task Force, for their unwavering commitment to the communities we serve and the pursuit of justice.”
“Former police officer Frenel Cenat disgraced himself by his inexcusable actions that damaged the public’s trust in law enforcement,” said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “I want to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration, the City of Miami Police Department and our U.S. Attorney’s Office for their ironclad commitment throughout this complex investigation. Every day, thousands of dedicated, able, and honorable law enforcement officers take to the streets to protect communities throughout South Florida. It is on the behalf of these professionals that we seek to root out wrongdoing to ensure the high standards expected of our police are met and maintained. Our citizens deserve no less. We encourage anyone who may have information about corruption to come forward and report it. This information is vital to protecting our community.”
“Cenat used his badge to cover his illegal activities, thereby tarnishing the reputations of all the good men and women who protect our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter, DEA Miami Field Division. “Law enforcement partnerships were key to bringing this disgraced officer to justice.”
“The reputation of the Miami Police Department is paramount. The community we are sworn to protect must trust our ability to police ourselves. The arrest of Mr. Cenat sent a strong message that I will not tolerate any member to tarnish the brand of our Miami Police Department,” said MPD Chief Manny Morales. “I am grateful for the assistance and partnership of the FBI, DEA, and the U.S. Attorney's Office; their professionalism and dedication made this investigation tremendously successful and resulted in the arrest of a person unfit to wear the badge.”
Cenat, 41, who at the time of the crimes had been a police officer with the MPD since 2008, was using an MPD unmarked SUV as a “take home” vehicle. As an MPD police officer, Cenat was prohibited from engaging in any act of extortion or unlawful means of obtaining anything of value using his official position. In addition, Cenat was required to uphold the laws of the State of Florida and the United States, and he was not permitted to allow, facilitate, or assist individuals in breaking those laws, nor was he authorized to accept payments or things of value in exchange for allowing, facilitating, or assisting them in breaking state or federal laws.
A confidential human source (CHS) stated to law enforcement that they had been told by a mutual friend that Cenat had previously conducted traffic stops of individuals known to have engaged in drug transactions for the purpose of stealing the drugs and/or money those individuals were transporting. On Oct. 16, 2023, the friend introduced Cenat to the CHS at a meeting in Broward County, during which the three of them discussed an opportunity for Cenat to use his police officer position to stop an individual immediately following a drug transaction and steal approximately $50,000 in drug proceeds that the individual would have in their vehicle. Cenat indicated that he conducts the traffic stops outside of his jurisdiction and while off duty.
On Nov. 1, 2023, the friend, the CHS and Cenat planned for a traffic stop rip-off for Nov. 3, 2023. They discussed that the driver to be stopped would have approximately $50,000 in cash from the purported drug transaction, and Cenat requested the time and location of the deal, as well as detailed information about the driver. Cenat stated he would use this information when he conducted the traffic stop to scare the individual into believing they had been under investigation and surveillance for some time so that the driver would be more likely to comply with his request for the money.
On Nov. 2 and 3, 2023, Cenat and the CHS engaged in numerous communications leading up to the traffic stop. On November 3, at a hotel parking lot in Miami Gardens, Florida, Cenat initiated these communications directly with the CHS. Cenat, in his MPD-issued unmarked vehicle, observed two drivers engage in a staged drug transaction in a parking lot. These drivers were actually FBI undercover employees. One of the drivers was given a backpack containing $52,000 in cash. Cenat followed that driver out of the parking lot and turned on his lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop. During this stop, Cenat was dressed in black tactical gear, and had his MPD-issued firearm and taser visible in their holsters. Cenat introduced himself as “Officer Martez” and told one of the drivers that he had witnessed the drug transaction. Cenat gave the driver the choice of giving up the backpack containing the cash or going to jail. The driver gave Cenat the backpack containing the cash and then the driver was allowed to leave the scene in his vehicle without being arrested. Cenat met with the CHS immediately thereafter and gave him $13,000 of the money stolen from the driver, keeping the remaining $39,000.
On Nov. 7, 2023, Cenat called the CHS and asked if he knew of a deal where Cenat could do another stop and get something like seven or ten kilograms of cocaine. Following up on the Cenat’s request, on Nov. 12, 2023, the CHS called Cenat about an upcoming deal in Deerfield Beach, Florida, on Nov. 16, 2023. The CHS told Cenat that the driver he would be stopping would have approximately six or seven kilograms of cocaine and at least $30,000 USD from a purported drug transaction. During their discussions, Cenat speculated that the cocaine he would be stealing could be sold for well over $100,000 that they could split.
On Nov. 16, 2023, Cenat called the CHS to tell him that he was at the parking lot in his MPD-issued vehicle where the deal was to take place. Then, the CHS messaged Cenat a description of the individual’s vehicle for the traffic stop. Like the first deal, two undercover FBI employees engaged in a staged drug transaction in the parking lot. Cenat followed one of them out of the parking lot and turned on the lights of his MPD-issued vehicle to conduct a traffic stop. Cenat was dressed in black tactical gear, including his MPD-issued tactical vest with body armor in place, and once again had his MPD-issued firearm and taser visible in their holsters. Cenat introduced himself as “Officer Martez” with “Broward County Sheriff’s Office – Narcotics Unit” and told the driver that he had witnessed the drug transaction. Cenat went to the bed of the driver’s truck and took a duffle bag containing seven kilograms of fake cocaine and $80,000 and brought it back to his own MPD vehicle. Cenat then returned to the driver-side window of the vehicle and used the information received from the CHS to create the impression that he was under investigation. Cenat asked the driver “you want to go home tonight or spend 30 years in… federal prison?” The driver told Cenat that he wanted to go home. Cenat then told the driver that he now worked for him and had to answer when he was called. Having obtained the fake cocaine and cash from the driver, Cenat let him drive away.
Cenat left with the duffle bag containing the fake cocaine and cash and shortly thereafter was arrested by law enforcement officers. The duffle bag, the seven kilograms of fake cocaine and the $80,000 in cash from the traffic stop were found in Cenat’s unmarked MPD-issued vehicle. In addition, $2,000 in $100 bills from the Nov. 3, 2023, traffic stop rip-off was also found in his vehicle.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter, DEA Miami Field Division, and Chief of Police Manuel A. Morales of MPD announced the sentence imposed.
FBI’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency and FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force, which includes task force officers from MPD’s Internal Affairs Section, and the DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60016.
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Firearms Offender, Prosecuted Under Safe Summer Program, Sentenced to 64 MonthsRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Kalamazoo resident Juwara Jawan Compton, Jr., 32, was sentenced to 64 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Compton was charged last October under Safe Summer 2023, a gun-violence enforcement program under which the U.S. Attorney’s Office committed to prosecute all firearms offenders who possess crime guns (that is, guns previously fired in the commission of a crime). The firearm Compton possessed was loaded, outfitted with an extended magazine, and modified with a “switch” that made it operate as a machinegun.
“Our Safe Summer 2024 Program is underway right now and we mean what we say: We will federally prosecute all firearms offenders caught with crime guns,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Mr. Compton carried an illegal machinegun equipped with an extended magazine, capable of inflicting mass destruction and senseless trauma. He will likely now serve years more in prison because he was prosecuted under the Safe Summer program. My team and our partners will not rest until every person, in every neighborhood, in every community is safe from violence.”
According to court documents, in September 2023, officers responded to the area of the Thunderbird Bar in Kalamazoo after receiving a report of a possible felonious assault. On scene, they found a vehicle registered to Compton’s sister. On the backseat, Compton had left a handgun with an extended magazine. The gun was loaded with a round in the chamber. It was also equipped with a “switch” that converted the pistol to a fully automatic machinegun. Below is a photo of the firearm.
Compton possessed the gun in this case after sustaining multiple prior felony convictions, including domestic violence. His history includes an incident in which he threw a woman across a room multiple times and destroyed her cell phone and another incident in which he threw a paint can at his girlfriend and hit her in the head. He then threw her to the ground, placed his knee on her chest, pulled her hair, and bit her left arm. Finally, in 2020, he threatened yet another female victim with a metal pipe.
“Individuals who choose a life of fear and violence to invoke criminal intimidation will be removed from our communities,” said ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “Mr. Compton is a convicted felon possessing illegal firearms and a serial domestic violence abuser who is going to have a lot of free time to reflect on his consistent track record of illegal activity.”
In sentencing Compton, Chief Judge Jarbou noted the serious nature of Compton’s crime noting that having a gun is made even more dangerous when that possession is coupled with someone with Compton’s criminal record. She noted that Compton’s criminal history, particularly his previous failures to complete periods of probation successfully, indicated that Compton “has no respect for the law” and had not ben deterred by criminal sentences he had received in the past.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced the Safe Summer 2024 program on May 23, 2024 in a press release and press conferences in Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Grand Rapids. Under this program, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will prosecute all cases that satisfy two criteria. First, the case must involve a federal firearms offense. The two most common offenses are felon in possession, which prohibits previously convicted felons from possessing a gun, and possession of a machine gun, which generally prohibits persons from possessing fully automatic guns. Second, the case must involve a crime gun, which is any gun previously fired in the commission of a crime. These criteria focus federal efforts on the few individuals driving gun violence in their communities.
Gun violence is an acute problem across the United States. In 2021, for the first time ever, firearm-related injuries became the leading cause of death for American children, ages birth to 19, according to the New England Journal of Medicine (see also here). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. firearm homicide rate in 2021 was the highest documented since 1993. While the numbers have declined since 2021, they remain high.
Moreover, while gun violence has the potential to impact everyone, recent studies show that gun violence has a disparate impact on people of color. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that the disparity in shooting injuries among children before and after the pandemic in four major cities approximately tripled as between white children and children of color (Black, Hispanic, Asian).
This case was investigated by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie M. Carowan prosecuted the case for the government.
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Final defendant pleads guilty in racketeering scheme that resulted in the nationwide lockdown of the federal prison systemRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – The final defendant in a racketeering conspiracy that resulted in the nationwide lockdown of the federal prison system has pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Juan Carlos Rivas-Moreiera, a/k/a “Juan Carlos Moriera,” a/k/a “Stocky” pleaded guilty on July 2, 2024, for his role in a racketeering conspiracy in furtherance of the violent transnational criminal organization La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13.
In April 2022, seven defendants, including Rivas-Moreiera, were indicted and charged with the planning and execution of a violent attack orchestrated by members of MS-13 against Mexican Mafia and Sureños associates that resulted in two deaths, two attempted murders, and a nationwide lockdown of all inmates in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for almost a week. Rivas-Moreiera admitted to his role in the deadly prison attack and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Rivas-Moreiera was the last remaining defendant to plead guilty.
According to information presented in court, MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, but also includes members from other countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico.
The Mexican Mafia controls large portions of the Hispanic prison population in California and Texas and the federal prison system. Although MS-13 has had a symbiotic relationship with both the Mexican Mafia and the Sureños, which is a close association of Hispanic gangs that pay tribute to the Mexican Mafia, that relationship has begun to deteriorate resulting in violent clashes between the groups.
On January 31, 2022, seven MS-13 members imprisoned at the U.S. Penitentiary in Beaumont attacked multiple Sureños members and one Mexican Mafia associate. Defendant Rivas-Moreiera began the prison attack when he approached Guillermo Riojas and stabbed Riojas twice in the chest. Riojas fell immediately, and other MS-13 defendants stabbed and kicked Riojas while he lay motionless on the prison floor. The MS-13 defendants then chased, cornered, beat, and repeatedly stabbed Andrew Pineda, and other Sureños members. The prison attack lasted approximately three minutes. Riojas and Pineda died as a result of the attack.
Defendants Rivas-Moreiera, Alfaro-Granado, and Landaverde-Giron are all serving sentences of life imprisonment for their participation in MS-13 and committing murder in aid of racketeering in furtherance of MS-13. Defendant Ramires is also serving a sentence of 27 years in federal prison following his conviction for participating in MS-13 and committing a murder on behalf of the gang.
This case is a result of coordination between the Eastern District of Texas and Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created in August 2019 as a whole-of-government approach to dismantle transnational criminal organizations, such as MS-13. Since its creation, JTFV has successfully increased coordination and collaboration with foreign law enforcement partners, including El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala; designating priority MS-13 programs, cliques and leaders, who have the most impact on the United States, for targeted prosecutions; and coordinating significant MS-13 indictments in U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the first use of national security charges against MS-13 leaders, such as the Ranfla Nacional, in El Salvador. JTFV has been comprised of members from U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including EDTX; the Eastern District of New York; the Southern District of New York; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the Eastern District of Virginia; the District of Massachusetts; the District of Alaska; the Southern District of Florida; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. In addition, all Department of Justice law enforcement agencies are involved in the effort, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; and the Bureau of Prisons. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations also plays a critical role in JTFV.
This case is being prosecuted by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte; Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Eason from the Eastern District of Texas and JTFV; Assistant U.S. Attorney Stewart M. Young from JTFV and the District of Utah; and Trial Attorney Jacob Warren from the National Security Division. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Prisons.
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Final Defendant Sentenced in Fentanyl and Heroin Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., man, Darnell Thomas, Jr. 32, was sentenced on Monday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to 240 months, for conspiracy to distribute 10 grams or more of fluorofentanyl, 40 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl, and heroin, and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to his plea agreement, between October and December 2022, Thomas conspired with his co-defendants, Melvin Coffey, 31, and Jaden Bradshaw, 23, to distribute fluorofentanyl, fentanyl, and heroin. Specifically, law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to purchase multiple ounces of the controlled substances, on five different occasions in Fayette and Madison Counties. For each of the five occasions, Thomas admitted to either personally conducting the drug sales or directing his co-defendants to do so, on his behalf. As part of his guilty plea, Thomas also acknowledged that he had previously been convicted of trafficking heroin and cocaine in 2016 and 2018, respectively.
Coffey was previously sentenced to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Bradshaw was sentenced to 24 months, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Under federal law, Thomas and his co-defendants must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. Upon Thomas’ release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 8 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Commander Kalan Perdue, Gateway High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and Gateway HIDTA Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Fifth Manager Sentenced in Scheme to Defraud Midwest Livestock ProducersRead the Press Release
A Lyon County man who defrauded pork producers while working as the regional manager of an Iowa livestock dealer, “Lynch Livestock,” was sentenced on June 24, 2024, to six months in federal prison. Robert Harry Bickerstaff, age 52, from Rock Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 1, 2023, guilty plea to one count of wire fraud.
At plea and sentencing hearings, and in his plea agreement, Bickerstaff admitted that he had worked as a regional manager for Lynch Livestock between 2018 and 2021 As a regional manager, Bickerstaff oversaw livestock buying stations in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. From time to time, Bickerstaff also personally counted, classified, and weighed swine at these stations.
Bickerstaff admitted he participated in a scheme to defraud livestock producers personally and by directing others to (1) falsely and fraudulently lower the weights and reduce the numbers and classifications of swine that producers and sellers had delivered to the dealer at its buying stations; (2) manipulate the weights of swine either manually or using a crowbar, paddle, or other similar object, and thus defeat the electronic scales on which livestock producers’ swine was weighed at his buying stations; and (3) create fraudulent “sort sheets” and scale tickets containing false numbers, classifications, and weights of producers’ swine for transmission to Lynch Livestock’s headquarters in Waucoma, Iowa. Finally, concerned about a potential investigation into his conduct in early 2021, Bickerstaff instructed others to destroy anything with his name on it.
Bickerstaff held a degree in Agribusiness and was experienced in the pork industry. Bickerstaff was a pork producer himself. In February 2022, Bickerstaff won a “Hog Wild” award from a statewide pork producers’ association for his role in promoting pork in Lyon County.
Bickerstaff was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on a date yet to be set. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Bickerstaff is the fifth manager of Lynch Livestock sentenced in this livestock fraud scheme.
Billie Joe Wickham, of Waucoma, Iowa, pled guilty on July 15, 2022, to one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States. On January 13, 2023, Wickham was sentenced to six months of imprisonment and fined $3,000. Wickham must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Charlie Lynch, of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, pled guilty on July 25, 2022, to one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States. On January 13, 2023, Lynch was sentenced to five years of probation and fined $3,000.
Leland “Pete” Blue, of Fredericksburg, Iowa, pled guilty on July 28, 2022, to one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States. On January 13, 2023, Blue was sentenced to five years of probation and fined $1,000.
Tyler Thoms, of Fayette, Iowa, pled guilty on August 9, 2022, to one count of Causing a Livestock Dealer to Keep Inaccurate Accounts and Records. On January 13, 2023, Thoms was sentenced to one year of probation.
Bickerstaff’s employer, Lynch Family Companies, Inc., of Waucoma, Iowa, also known as “Lynch Livestock,” pled guilty on July 29, 2022, to one count of Failing to Comply with an Order of the Secretary of Agriculture. On February 10, 2023, Lynch Livestock was sentenced to five years of probation, fined $196,000, and ordered to pay over $3 million in restitution to livestock producers and farmers.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-2026. The prior case file numbers are 21-CR-2074 (Wickham and Lynch), 21-CR-2042 (Blue), 22-CR-2043 (Lynch Family Companies, Inc.), and 22-CR-2044 (Thoms).
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El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un Distrito Escolar de Kansas con respecto a la disciplina escolar, la aplicación de la ley y el aislamiento y la restricciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy un acuerdo de conciliación para resolver la investigación del Departamento de la discriminación por motivos de raza y discapacidad en las escuelas públicas de Wichita, el distrito escolar más grande de Kansas. En virtud del acuerdo, el distrito revisará las prácticas para evitar la discriminación en la disciplina y las derivaciones de estudiantes a las fuerzas del orden público, finalizará el uso del aislamiento, reformará sus prácticas de restricción y mejorará los servicios a los estudiantes con discapacidades en ciertas escuelas y aulas.
La investigación del Departamento reveló, entre otras cosas, que los estudiantes negros del distrito fueron sancionados con más frecuencia y más severidad que los estudiantes blancos que incurrieron en conductas similares y tenían antecedentes e historiales disciplinarios similares. Este patrón fue más evidente cuando se trataba de infracciones subjetivas como la insubordinación, y fue especialmente marcado cuando se trataba de disciplina de niñas negras, cuyo comportamiento se caracterizó repetidamente utilizando términos estereotípicos como «mala actitud» o «drama». Además, la investigación concluyó que el distrito aislaba y restringía de forma inapropiada y repetida a estudiantes con discapacidades y relegaba a aquellos con las mayores necesidades conductuales a instalaciones inferiores con servicios y apoyo inadecuados.
«Los estudiantes negros dentro de las escuelas públicas de nuestra nación no deberían tener que enfrentarse a medidas disciplinarias o una derivación a las fuerzas del orden público debido a su raza. Y los estudiantes con discapacidades no deberían experimentar el trauma del aislamiento o la restricción indebida», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Las escuelas en nuestras comunidades no deben ser un lugar de miedo o desconfianza. Este acuerdo mantiene nuestros principios fundamentales de poner fin al flujo de la escuela a la prisión y proteger a nuestros estudiantes más vulnerables de todas las formas de discriminación y segregación».
El distrito escolar cooperó plenamente con la investigación, que se llevó a cabo en virtud de los Títulos IV y VI de la ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, el Título II de la ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Sección 504 de la ley de Rehabilitación. La revisión del Departamento reveló un trato discriminatorio de los estudiantes negros en la administración de la disciplina en múltiples escuelas, y que las niñas negras se enfrentan a niveles especialmente altos de aislamiento por insubordinación percibida y por infracciones del código de vestimenta en ciertas escuelas secundarias. Por otra parte, la investigación del Departamento también halló pruebas de discriminación racial en las derivaciones a las fuerzas del orden público y un patrón de agentes de seguridad que respondían a asuntos disciplinarios rutinarios y aumentaban las hostilidades en esos incidentes, lo que resultó en la derivación innecesaria de estudiantes negros a las fuerzas del orden público por mala conducta rutinaria o menor.
Además, la investigación del Departamento concluyó que el distrito aislaba y restringía, de forma inapropiada y repetida, a estudiantes con discapacidades, incluso por motivos punitivos o en respuesta al incumplimiento de las normas escolares y las directivas del personal. Durante el período cubierto por la investigación, los estudiantes con discapacidades recibieron más del 98 % de las aproximadamente 3,000 restricciones y aislamientos del distrito. Al menos 44 estudiantes fueron aislados o restringidos 20 veces o más durante el período cubierto por la investigación y un estudiante fue restringido o aislado al menos 144 veces, incluidas 99 incidentes de aislamiento que duraron más de 15 horas en total. En las escuelas y aulas del distrito para estudiantes con discapacidades, donde se produjo la gran mayoría de los incidentes de aislamiento y restricción, el distrito carecía de intervenciones conductuales para los estudiantes o no las implementó y no aseguró su eficacia. Cuando el Departamento visitó las escuelas especiales del distrito para estudiantes con discapacidades conductuales, encontró instalaciones inferiores sin muebles, equipos educativos y los tipos de decoración que típicamente se encuentran en las escuelas, y personal que no podía satisfacer las necesidades de los estudiantes.
En virtud del acuerdo, el distrito, entre otras medidas:
- Desarrollará un código de conducta en todo el distrito, estandarizará las políticas del código de vestimenta y creará un protocolo de intervención conductual para garantizar la administración antidiscriminatoria de medidas disciplinarias y prohibir la exclusión innecesaria de estudiantes del entorno escolar;
- Creará un sistema de supervisión a nivel de distrito de la administración disciplinaria de las escuelas para garantizar que no haya discriminación;
- Garantizará que la seguridad escolar y las fuerzas del orden público solo se vean involucradas en la mala conducta estudiantil en las circunstancias apropiadas, así evitando la penalización de asuntos de disciplina escolar rutinaria;
- Eliminará el uso del aislamiento;
- Restringirá a los estudiantes solo cuando su comportamiento represente un peligro inminente de daño físico grave para el estudiante u otra persona, documentará adecuadamente todos los incidentes de restricción y proporcionará las intervenciones requeridas a los estudiantes que estén restringidos o aislados;
- Garantizará que solo los profesionales con la experiencia y la formación necesarias dirijan y doten de personal a escuelas especializadas para estudiantes con discapacidades;
- Proporcionará asesoramiento y educación compensatoria a los estudiantes que han sido aislados repetidamente; y
- Creará una oficina para supervisar las prácticas de restricción del distrito (y el aislamiento hasta su eliminación) para garantizar el cumplimiento con el acuerdo y ayudar al personal del distrito a proporcionar las intervenciones y apoyos necesarios.
Hoy es el 60º aniversario de la ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964. La aplicación de los Títulos IV y VI de la ley de Derechos Civiles con el fin de proteger a los estudiantes de la discriminación racial en la escuela es una prioridad de la División de Derechos Civiles. Además, este acuerdo es el más reciente de una serie de acuerdos en virtud del Título II de la ADA para abordar y prevenir el aislamiento y la restricción ilegales de estudiantes con discapacidades en escuelas públicas. Para obtener más información sobre el trabajo de la Sección en virtud de la ADA para combatir el aislamiento indebido en las escuelas, visite www.justice.gov/schoolseclusion.
Puede encontrar información adicional sobre la División de Derechos Civiles en su sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt, e información adicional sobre el trabajo de la Sección de Oportunidades Educativas está disponible en www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Los miembros del público pueden informarnos de posibles infracciones de los derechos civiles en civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Ecuadorian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Smuggle over 1,700 Kilograms of Cocaine in International WatersRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Juan Nicolas Pachay Lopez (40, Manta, Ecuador) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a substance or mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine, and possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a substance or mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Pachay Lopez faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on or about February 24, 2024, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter MUNRO was on routine patrol in international waters approximately 580 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. A Coast Guard drone encountered an unnamed four-engine go-fast vessel (“GFV”) and began to investigate suspected illicit maritime activity. The drone observed three individuals on board the GFV, which was approximately 40 feet in length with a blue and green hull, with packages and fuel drums on the GFV’s deck. MUNRO’s helicopter arrived on scene and fired several warning shots after the GFV ignored Spanish language commands to stop broadcasted via the helicopter’s loudspeaker and on maritime radio channels.
A small vessel dispatched from MUNRO with a boarding team comprised of Coast Guard law enforcement personnel arrived and gained control of the GFV. Pachay Lopez, a national of Ecuador, was one of the crewmen and was identified as the vessel master. During the boarding, the Coast Guard recovered 33 bales containing an at-sea weight of 1,725 kilograms of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Panama Express Strike Force, a standing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force comprised of agents and analysts from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.
Drug Dealer Sentenced to a Decade in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Tuesday sentenced a St. Louis County, Missouri man who sold fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine base to a decade in prison.
Byron Green, 29, pleaded guilty in March to eight felony counts: a fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine distribution charge, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute a fentanyl analogue, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of distribution of fentanyl.
Green admitted that he was once part of the Guy Goolsby drug trafficking organization, which brought large quantities of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl to the St. Louis and Kansas City areas from Mexico via Texas and Florida. Green was a lower-level distributor within the organization. After Goolsby and his associates were charged and arrested, Green continued to obtain drugs from other members of the conspiracy and distributed fentanyl and meth from 2019 to 2023.
In 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration identified homes in St. Louis and St. Charles counties that Green was using. During a May 11, 2023, court-approved search of the St. Louis County home, investigators recovered plastic bags containing more than 1,200 fentanyl capsules, two ounces of cocaine base, two pounds of meth, five ounces of pure fentanyl, $33,255 cash, four pistols and diamond-encrusted jewelry bought with drug proceeds: a “Big B” necklace, a bracelet and a Rolex watch. In the St. Charles County home, they found more fentanyl in powder and capsule form, pill presses used to make pills and 12 blenders used to mix drugs.
Green is one of more than three dozen people who were convicted based on investigations associated with the Goolsby drug trafficking organization. Over 120 pounds of cocaine, fentanyl, and meth, $2 million in drug proceeds and payments and dozens of firearms were seized by law enforcement during the broader investigation.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Mantovani and Geoffrey S. Ogden prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.